Barbora Špotáková announced the end of her career

Only a few hours after Barbora Špotáková completed her last attempt as part of the Diamond League final in Zurich, She announced the end of her career.

Barbora said goodbye at a press conference in her favorite Restaurant U Pinkasů in the center of Prague. "Every fairy tale comes to an end, and mine had a wonderful happy ending in the form of a bronze medal at the European Championships in Munich, symbolically closing the circle. My body was clearly telling me that it was time to quit. I would like to thank everyone who stood by me the whole time. First, of course, are my parents and my partner Lukáš. Many thanks also go to coaches Rudo Černý, Jan Železný and Jan Tylče. Next important person is Libor Varhaník, who took excellent care of me the whole time, or Jaroslav Priščák, who brought me to Dukla Prague. Then there are a number of doctors and physiotherapists who have performed miracles many times. There are countless people to whom I owe such a long career," she said.

And what are her immediate life plans? "First, I want to be a mom now. The boys are nine and four. I feel they need me more than ever before. I found that it makes me happier when they play sports than when I do. In the last year, I had to watch myself a lot to stay as healthy as possible, and I missed the joy of athletics. I enjoy my boys sports all the more."

In the future, she would like to realize herself in the field of the queen of sports. "I would like to be involved in Dukla Prague and pass on my experience to young athletes. I believe I have enough of them and I have something to pass on to them. But now I need to rest for a while and gain energy.”

Barbora Špotáková – world javelin legend

Barbora Špotáková is clearly the most successful javelin thrower in history. During her rich career, she became a two-time Olympic champion, reaching the top stage at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 games, adding bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

She rejoiced at the title of world champion three times. She won gold medals at the world championships in Osaka 2007, Daegu 2011 and London 2017. She has silver from the world championships in Berlin 2009.

She stood on the podium four times at the European Championships. She won the continental title at the European Championships in Zurich 2014. She won silver at the European Championships in Gothenburg 2006, which was her first major medal ever. She then hung the bronze around her neck at the European Championships in Barcelona 2010 and a few weeks ago in Munich.

At the World Finals in Stuttgart in 2008, she threw the still valid world record of 72.28.

Barbora is also a five-time winner of the Diamond League. She dominated the most prestigious athletic series in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017.

She also won gold at the 2005 World Summer Universiade in Izmir, Turkey

She became the champion of the Czech Republic in the javelin throw a total of fifteen times.